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TZHZIE 



iiii I OF I PRUNIDG^ 



TR EES and arbor V I N ES 

Ry John Dollins, 

Crozet, .Albemarle County, Virginia. 



The author of the treatise on the subject of Pruning Trees and Vines, as 
appears in the following pages, seeing the necessity of a more ra- 
tional understanding in the treatment of Trees and Vines, 
dedicates this little work to Science, for the prac- 
tical government of -4te -few*- i n f opined 
Tree and Vine (Irowers. 



Price. 30 Cents per Copy. Postpaid. 



Oop37-rigrl3.t 1883, Toy Tola.ii 3Dollin.s. 



CIIAELOTTKSYILLK. V^J 
Peck & Allan*. Book axd Job Prixtlks. 



X 

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Digitized by the Internet Archive 
in 2010 with funding from 
The Library of Congress 



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The Art of Prunidg 

REES AED ARBOR-VINES, 



«aSV<£r <!£> <|> (Ha— 



By JOHN DOLLINS, 
Crozet P. O., Albemarle County, Va. 



1 



N all the details of thcGeorgic, or science of husbandry, Nature has not 
foreshadowed a' surer incite to the artificial improvement of any of her 
works than she has to the physiological construction of trees and their 
concomitants, arbor-vines. The lessons from which we learn the 
art of pruning, are texted in the natural laws of shedding branches to form 
the fundamental trunk to tree-structure, which are exampled in multiple 
repletion in the natural growth of trees everywhere. 

The manner of tree-structure, in its fixed organization of parts, is a sim- 
ple reproduction, in miniature form, of itself. The severed branch resem- 
bles the tree in whole, and the analogy may be traced on every" divergency 
therefrom, 

The structural growth being wdiolly directed to the epidermis of the plant, 
it cannot rise up in its stretches from crotch to crotch like the anatomy of 
the animal creation. Nature has provided cause to overcome this deficiency 
by the canopial system formed in the complexity of subjects. That is by 
clustering many trees together, a canopy is formed, and as it is the univer- 
sal law of vegetable growth to seek light, and space being contracted and 
overshadowed below, a powerful strain of sap juice is forced directly up the 
main leader as each unit in the group vies with all of its competitors to 
lift up its head or top into the light above the canopy ; and thus, as the 
lower divergencies have become overmatched and shut in from the light, 
having served their purpose, they are dwarfed, die and finally shed, to give a 
smooth trunk to the rising structure. But for this cause alone, as is fully 
illustrated by the isolated trees in the field, the first divergencies would ab- 
sorb too much aliment from the fundamental part of the structure, branch 
upon branch would enter into the struggle for the juices of life, which would 
dwarf their leader and preclude the possibility of a long, smooth trunk to the 
figure ; and we would have no timber in our primitive forest of any consid- 
erable commercial value, instead of the handsome pyramids of radiating 
branches mounted high on long smooth trunks, as all timber trees should 
be, and all other trees, ornamental and fruit, should have a smooth, well- 
defined trunk, in proportion to the habits of their kind. 

But this cause alone, taught in the canopial text of shedding to form a 
trunk, whilst it will serve, in nature's slow way, to grow r new plantations of 
forest trees, is a practical impossibility with the isolated ornamental or fruit 



m. 

tree in the field. What a grand subject is here presented and insighted to 
the demonstration of art to improve "the useful and beautiful of earth ! " 
But, alas, how little understood ! The shockingly knotty, deformed trees left 
in our forests, the vacant places and neglected forms of ornamental, de- 
ciduous and evergreen trees around our dwellings, the miserable squatty, lop- 
sided, deformed, lazy-looking appearance of our fruit trees, and last, but not 
least, the poor beheaded, bleak -bared grape-vine, with mildewed fruit in our 
vineyards, must attest. 

But what wonder, whilst the country is flooded with practical illustrated 
treatises upon almost every other subject of domestic husbandry, there are 
but few or none, that I am aware of, dedicated entirely to the subject of 
pruning, founded upon the true principles of vegetable physiology, by practi- 
cal authors. One authority says he prunes down instead of up, meaning 
that he beheads the tree to force it to outdo itself in deformity. Another 
teacher says better not prune at all than too much ; suggesting the lazy 
idea of nothing more to do after planting. And the authorities in the vine- 
yard slay the vine until the stump looks more like a chinqucpin grub with 
its numerous sprouts than it does to its natural form in the embrace of the 
friendly tree. 

Then we say, away with such teachings as these and many other theorems, 
just as novel, in which there is not a shadow of true demonstrated science ; 
but is in direct contravention to nature's teachings. To prune does not 
mean to behead, nor the clefting of vital parts, but simply the removal of 
useless parts. Those parts which have served their purpose and by their 
continued presence hinder perfect development. And this should be so 
thoroughly practiced, on the tree or vine in its early stages, sighting to the 
stately form of maturity, that no vital members shall have to be cut away 
thereafter. To cut away from this anatomy vital parts, such as its leader 
and overgrown branches, is no more admissible than it is to amputate a leg 
or an arm of the animal anatomy, and only should be resorted to, to correct 
the deformities of casualty and neglect, which then becomes a simple act of 
surgery to make the best of it. 

The manner of pruning consists in smooth operations close to the outline 
of the member from which the detachment is made, thereby placing the 
wound within the easiest reach of descending, modified aliment, from the 
leaves down the circular channel, between the bark and the wood, which de- 
posits in its descent the tissues of which the cambium layer is formed to 
make the annual ring on the old wood ; the wood thus artly situated will 
soon become enveloped with new wood and bark, and be lost to sight by 
the enlargement of the circumference of the member from which the de- 
tachment is made. The proper time to perform the operation of pruning 
young trees, forest and fruit trees, is at midsummer, as the modified aliment 
is descending to form the tissues of the cambium layer on its passage to the 
root, and will begin at once to form a lip of wood fibre and bark around 
the wound, the descending matter being too cloy to waste through the open- 
ing made in the main channel, it is lodged around the cut to close the open- 
ing according to physical laws. And the wood being mostly flexible at this 
season, the stems may be straightened or bent and tied to correct deformity, 
to the satisfaction of the operator. Late Autumn and early Winter finds the 
wood of the maturing tree and for the bearing fruit-tree in the next best 
condition to heal the wounds of the saw and pruning knife, to correct the 
deformities of neglect and casualty, being bare of leaves and fruit, its main 
features of deformity may be seen at a glance and operated upon to the best 
advantage, and the severed sap channels will have time to dry and contract 
before spring-time comes. The spring-time (at which unfortunately so much 



[3] 

cutting has been done) finds tree-structure of all kinds in the worst possible 
condition of helplessness to heal the wounds of surgery. Its main sap con- 
ductor has been broken into just as the simple fluid starts up the channel, 
which must bleed or leak out at the fresh incision for some considerable 
time, and when the said liquid sap is exposed to the open air, it cankers and 
festers the sore very much, to the detriment of the health of the tree. The 
secret of obtaining a complete cure in all operations requiring the removal 
of a branch, large or small, living or dead, consists in cutting close to and 
perfectly even with the trunk-line just at the time when the conditions of 
the organism is most favorable to heal the wound. And in the performance 
of this important work so thoroughly in the early stages of growth that there 
should exist no necessity of the removal of any large limbs in maturing life. 
Tn the cases of the removal of large limbs from neglected, and casualty- 
stricken trees, it is of prime importance after the wound, in all cases, has 
been prepared, as above directed, to apply at once some cauterizing matter, 
which will prevent the escape of sap and the introduction of water, and also 
preserve the clefted wood sound until enveloped with growing wood. Down- 
ing says that a composition of alcohol and gum -shellac, applied with a brush, 
make the best cauterizer ; but more recently, it is said, for this purpose coal- 
tar, a waste product of gas works, has been found superior to the many 
other preparations which have been used. It has remarkable preservative 
properties, and may be used with equal advantage on living or dead wood. 
A single application forms an impervious coating to the wood-cells. It pro- 
duces a sort of instantaneous cauterization, and preserves from decay wounds 
caused either in pruning or by accident. It is plentiful, cheap, and may be 
applied with an ordinary paint-brush. How much the trees in the woods, 
especially the young growing timber, may be improved by judicious and 
timely pruning ! Their trunks may be preserved sound thereby, and carried 
to a greater length for timber. 

Although the importance of growing new plantations of seedling timber- 
trees is not appreciated but by the few in this country, we insist that no 
more time should be lost to the proioer consideration of this part of our sub- 
ject — the improvement and production of timber and shade trees : 

1st. Go into the woods and cut down the old knotty and doted trees for 
fire-wood, and cut off smoothly the hideous snags and useless limbs from 
the lively trees, taking great care to save the young undergrowth trees of 
the most valuable kinds, which we would also prune up nicely. Then in the 
Fall of the year we would gather seed from the most valuable kinds (around 
about the fields is the best situation to find them), such as the oaks, chest- 
nut, and from the trees in the field. Black walnut, yellow locust, and in 
summer time, mazard cherry and mulberry, and white-ash (this last from 
the iiurseries), which we would sow in drills like corn rows in a well-pre- 
pared and rich plot of loamy ground, sow the acorns, walnut and locust at 
once when gathered. The cherry and mulberry seeds should be packed in 
dry sand in a box covered with moss, so as to keep in about the same condi- 
tion of moisture as when gathered until early Spring, then sown. The chest- 
nut is more difficult to manage, the worms destroy them so much, and if 
they get dry will not germinate ; but some that escape the worms may be 
kept in damp moss until Spring and then sown. Many plants from seed 
may be gathered in the woods and transplanted with success. Cultivate 
these seedlings nicely for two years or more, and thin out to desired thick- 
ness, planting out the thinnings in the adjoining lands, or a new plot, as 
many as wanted. Cultivate for a few years, and as necessity requires, prune 
for several years thereafter, and be proud of a valable ornament to the farm. 
As to evergreens, the spruces, Norway. American black and white hemlock. 



[4] 

arbor vitas, red cedar, &c., seedlings of which may he had cheap at most of 
the large nurseries, if liberally set out and cultivated for timber, alone from 
their ornamental presence and salutary influences, would make valuable ad- 
ditions to our forestry, especially in the neglected Middle and Southern 
States. The North and West having received more attention in these mat- 
ters. What a happy suggestion of comfort they offer in barring off the bleak 
winds from our dwellings when introduced on the lawn and systematically 
arranged on the bleak side of our houses. A thick row of them would make 
a haven of rest on the lea-side. 

FRUIT TREES. 

In our general remarks on pruning, we endeavored to show the deficiency 
of natural cause to shed away the first or lower branches to give place for a 
proportional trunk to the structural development of the isolated tree in the 
field. And here it is in the orchard that we mostly need the practical art of 
pruning to serve that deficiency. Now, to apply the art of pruning com- 
pletely, we must commence the work with the maiden tree-plant in the nur- 
sery. And just here before we do commence we disown any but the most 
friendly feelings in interfering with the modus operandi of the professional 
nursery-men, who have done so much to fill the land with the " beautiful 
and the good." But to elevate that profession to which we belong, by trying 
to disabuse it of error, is our highest aim. And too, we do not know that the 
profession is any more to blame for the error we are about to assail than its 
patrons are. 

However, the preference has obtained for heavily loAV-branehed fruit-tree 
transpl an tings, the flattering model of perfection. The nursery-man, to 
cator to the preference of his customers, resorts to the practice of behead- 
ing his maiden trees to arrest the upward tendency influenced by the little 
canopy formed by his thickly growing subjects, which must cause the stilled 
buds on the stem below to push out into branches, and thus prematurely 
form miniature old age. In this form it is sent out and transplanted in its 
permanent isolated place, with directions to grow low branched trees. And this 
is where the great error is committed, in violating the precepts of nature at 
the very foundation of the structure. We have said that the tree-structure 
was not like animal structure. The beautiful babe has, from the first crea- 
tion, a complete organism of stature for extension. It needs no more limbs, 
hands, nor feet, for complete development. Not so with tree organism. It 
has a reproductive structural form of development, which, from its fixed 
principles of organism, require the detachment of members which have 
served their purpose to give place for perfect development. Therefore the 
miniature tree in the field cannot maintain proper proportions to maturity. 
Its side branches must be pruned away and the leader preserved, or it will 
develop into the worst sort of deformity. Then it must appear that the top 
of the plant should not have been cut off, but that the side branches left 
on should have been cleared away so effectually as to maintain the propor- 
tions of a frame only, to be still further extended principally as a frame by 
the fruit grower, until it gradually, from age, assumes the form of maturity. 
The maiden tree-plant, of whatever species, fruit bearing, standard or dwarf, 
deciduous, ornamental, or coniferous, which has been bereft of its top, and 
thereby lost its main base-line leader, and does not out caliper and overtop 
its greatest side branches, is a deformity in the beginning, and Avithout true 
artificial government with the pruning knife, must develop into misshapen 
form, not able to stay its own weight from casualty of storm, and the fruit- 
tree would be wrecked by the additional weight of its maturing fruit. Such 
trees are deformed more or less, according to the hight at which their cen- 



[5] 

trical trunk-line stools, the lower in the base-line, the greatest and the highest 
the least deformed. Each species of trees consist of a progeny of varie- 
ty from seed resembling its parent, more or less, according to the inward- 
ness of reproduction. Some of the species have been reproduced until they 
have a numerous progeny of varieties, each of which have been impressed 
constitutionally with a different habit of growth in conjointure of parts and 
vigor of size, varied from the drooping bush up to the lofty tree. Here, 
again, we must allude to the professional nursery-man's duty. He should 
be a thoughtful man, well up in nature's works, that he may profit 
by demonstrating what he may see in nature. It is known by experiment 
that the propagation of plants from scions or grafts, cut from the lower 
drooping branches of a tree, will produce still more drooping habits, and that 
propagations cut from the vigorous top shoots of the same tree will develop 
into a more upright growing tree. If the variety is too much drooping in 
habit, the nursery-man, with his correct judgment, should choose only the 
leading upright branches from which to propagate. And if the variety 
should be too much inclined upright and forky, he should choose propaga- 
tions only from the lowest horizontal branches, and thus raise up or lower 
the habit, as might be wished, to give the most useful form. Especially 
should these principles be observed with fruit trees requiring surface and. 
strength to bear up their heavy loads of fruit. Another point with the 
nursery -man. To sturdy the fruit-tree in place is one of the prime objects 
of pruning, and therefore we must examine the under-ground works of our 
tree. Both ends of a tree-plant from seed grow alike in general features, 
adapting themselves to different elements, the one to supply the raw mate- 
rial from the ground and the other to receive and prepare and send it back 
to all parts for extension. The seed in the soil first sends its root-stem 
down, then the top stem up. The root-stem casts out a radii of branches 
in the soil, winch serve both as feeders and props to the rising stem above 
ground, which also casts out its branches in a corresponding ratio. Thus 
we see that the constitutional members of the under-ground part is just as 
liable to different habits as we have shown the up-ground part to be. The 
main root-stem plunges deep into the subsoil, casting out-side branches in a 
decreasing ratio as it goes down until it has but little disposition to cast out 
any more branches at all, penetrating very deep into the earth, if no obsta- 
cle prevents. This main stay is the base of the fundamental trunk above 
ground. It has its braces, props and feeders near the surface, each part 
maintaining the habit to suit its purpose. The one to seek moisture in the 
deep earth in dry weather, and the others to prop and feed in seasonable 
weather. Varieties of trees are largely multiplied by grafting scions on 
short bits of main roots, especially the apple tree", is much treated so. That 
is, seed are sown and cultivated one or two years. They strike deep into the 
ground and make long, straight root-stems. These stems are cut into lengths 
of about four inches. One seedling root making from two to four cuts, on 
which the grafts are joined. Now, from the disposition of habit of these 
parts, the first or surface cut takes off a large proportion of the propping 
and feeding principle, but is bereft of the deep tap-root principle. The sec- 
ond cut may, in a majority of cases, have enough left of both principles to 
make a tolerable tree ; but the third and fourth cuts, true to instinct, mostly 
send down long roots void of feeding fibres, and when used, are of but lit- 
tle worth. 

Now, in propagating by this mode, the seedling stock should only be 
sheared so as to maintain both of these vital principles, and one tree only 
made of each stock ; they may be clipped to about eight inches on well- 
grown one year old seedlings, and transplanted with the union about two 



[6] 

inches below the surface. This mode so treated, with a whole seedling to 
each graft, secures all the principles of a budded seedling, which more near- 
ly approaches a seed production than any other by which identical variety 
can be multiplied ; and we prefer this mode for the apple to budding, as it 
secures all of the vital principles and makes more handsome trees, and is 
provided with a better fibered root to transplant. The apple and the pear, 
grafted on this whole-stock principle, or budded on transplanted seedlings, 
properly pruned in the nursery, make transplanting^ of the highest excel- 
lence. For stone-seeded fruits — cherries, peaches, plums, apricots, &c.,— bud- 
ding on whole stocks, is the only mode by which these fruits can be success- 
fully propagated in perpetuation of identical variety. Nursery apple trees, 
grafted on cut sections of root, and all grafted stone-fruits, are but cheap 
stock, to make the best of it. 

The nursery tree, of most kinds, are in better condition to remove and 
transplant at two and three years old than at any other age. The two years 
old tree should consist only of a single straight stem with its leaf spines left 
undisturbed by the propagator. The three-years tree may have a few, three 
to four, small limbs on the upper third of its hight, with also its spurs left 
on. Tins constitutes the frame to build on. After this frame has been set 
in its permanent place, it should be watched and kept standing perfectly 
erect and worked often and pruned annually in midsummer, permitting 
more branches to remain on the stem as it rises up, keep the trunk-line always 
in the lead and don't permit the branches to tier around the trunk. Leave 
well-defined sections of the trunk, from one single branch to the next, on 
the opposite side. Treat the branches same way, but do not rob them of 
leaf spurs, [f any of the upper branches on the small stem push too strong, 
cut them back to their small side branches, or, if they can be spared, cut 
them entirely away, to keep the leader in the ascendency. It is often the 
case, that the largest limb on the leader of the young tree should be pruned 
out to maintain an even balance of weight on the stem, and if it cannot well 
be spared, cut it back to a small up or side branch or bud, to check its 
growth. Also, it is often necessary to cut back the extremities of the 
branches to preserve balance and symmetry of form. Thin out crowded 
parts and keep the head light and airy, so as to take the sail off in time of 
storms, when the ground is soft, that they may not blow down, nor lean to 
one side. Look at the trees in the old orchards now in that one-sided fix. 
Should this unbalancing occur, straighten up immediately after the storm, 
whilst the ground is still wet. If the leader bends to one side, put a muffle 
of old rags around its stem at the proper place and attach a wire to it and 
draw it to its perpendicular, making the other end of the wire fast to a stake 
driven in the ground at a suitable distance. Also, any limb on the tree may 
be directed by the wire to suit the .notions of the operator. These directions 
apply to all trees. But, of course, the operator will be governed by the size 
to which the different kinds of trees attain at maturity, and the use for 
which they are intended. Standard fruit trees should have smooth trunks 
from one-fourth to one-third their hight. Dwarf, one-fifth, and forest trees 
one-half to two-thirds, and ornamental (except the outside wind breaks) 
high enough to walk under. A little good judgment will be well paid for 
in this matter. To plant, cultivate and frink, is the duty of man, the gar- 
dener. 

THE VINE. 

The irrational method of pruning the vine, which lays the knife to the 
vital member of physical development and unshields bare its maimed sub- 
jects to the extremes of uncongenial temperature, to freeze in the bleak field 



m 

in winter and broil with surfeited sap-vessels in the arid plain in summer, is 
what's the matter with the Hannah of grape-growing in this country. 

The grape-vine is the natural concomitant of its lords, the trees, conse- 
quently it is an arbor production, requiring the support and the amelior- 
ating influences of the trees, as plainly indicated by its anatomy and natural 
habits. It is the tender nursling of the trees, and therefore not adapted to 
bare-field culture, without true artificial government. The natural position 
should be imitated, and the main features of the anatomy of this produc- 
tion must be preserved as well as those of any other production in the vege- 
table kingdom. Does the use of the scythe in the field promote the physical 
development of bushes into trees ? No, final death is the object of slaying 
them, and the vine is no exception, save being of a more sensitive nature. 
Bat here it must have been from seeing the hasty sprouts gathering around 
these stumps in the effort to cast off their gorge of simple sap, that the vio- 
lent theories of slaying the vine were conceived. 

Our guides in the vineyards of this new world, Messrs. Hussman, Fuller, 
etc., catching at these flattering ideas, first conceived by the old authors of 
Europe, and being themselves flattered by experiment in this country, have 
also mistaken the effects produced by the scythe in the field for true de- 
monstrated science. Verily, the science founded by the scythe in the dismem- 
berment of bushes in the field goes it with a rush in the vineyards of this 
country. 

The effects produced by pruning down the vine to this method is this : 
The stump of dismembered anatomy being thereby bereft of its channels of 
reception, become gorged with sap (unmodified aliment), and in an effort to 
cast off its superabundance of sap, sprouts are formed around the base of 
the stump as rapidly as leaves can be produced to restore the breath of life, 
and through which the simple aliment can only be modified to send back to 
form wood, which now begins to grow rapidly, and drain the gorge, as more 
and more leaves are produced. But, in the meantime, the drain has 
not been sufficient to absorb the abundance of sap furnished by its whole 
system of roots, and they have suffered with stagnation and inaction. And 
if the shock of repeated dismemberment is practiced, serious trouble must 
result to its roots. True, as experiment has proven, these hasty stump- 
sprouts will produce a few crops of often mildewed (more so as the shock is 
repeated) and always insipid fruit, because of inadequate preparations ; and 
premature exhaustion, and even untimely death, must result. Let us re- 
count by interrogation. The vast importance of more light upon this sub- 
ject cannot be over-estimated. Then what wonder if these stumps of dis- 
membered anatomy, bared bleak in winter and scorched in the arid plain in 
summer, gorged with sweltering, unmodified aliment, which the clefted mem- 
ber, with its system of reception, should have absorbed, and its fully ma- 
tured leaves could only have prepared to send back the properly modified 
aliment for the extension of its anatomy and the storage of albumen in its 
fruit-organs for the final development of healthy fruit? I say, what is the 
wonder if these oft-repeated-violated vines do, after a time, groan out from 
their aching bowels mildeAv and blight on their, at best, insipid fruit (pro- 
duced, as before said, from inadequate preparations), and if their rootlets do 
knot from retention of aliment? 

I submit the question : Are not these conditions to which the grape-vine 
have been subjected, wretched enough to beget mildew and rot in the fruit, 
ahd phyloxera in its roots ? But, alas ! ignored by the over-weening scientist, 
who is looking with optic-eyes for molecules in the air, and more recently, 
curious insecta in the ground, for a solution of all these troubles. Well, 
there be such things. But come not they to prey upon robust life. Like 



[8] 

the worms and the vultures do upon the animal creation, they come to take 
possession of the sick, wounded and dead, which nature has given them as 
a heritage for life. We know of some Catawba vines planted and trained on 
an arbor by a German lady, which have not failed to produce annually an 
abundant, well-ripened crop of berries in the last twenty years. We know 
another single Catawba vine, a very old one, in a different locality, similarly 
treated, which," a few years since, produced all the grapes that a medium - 
sized family and visiting friends wanted to eat in season, and enough was 
left to make a barrel of good wine. In both instances, these vines were 
trained on arbors protected by shade trees, and all were pruned like a tree, 
and the main features of anatomy preserved as they should have been. 

With the rising interest in grape-growing for both table and wine-making 
purposes, and in view of the excellent achievements of science already se- 
cured in the production of new varieties (to the manor born), a more ra- 
tional system of treatment to the vine should be understood. 

Every year, about the month of July, we hear the cry of our grape-grow- 
ers calling a council of war, to which they invite their most distinguished 
generals, when the enemy is upon them. But, dear me, what do they do? 
Well, we have not been in the council, and don't know. But as the enemy 
is not driven away, we suppose that the council drink some sour wine of last 
year's war-ravaged vintage, talk knowingly of molecules in the air and of 
insecta in the ground, and debate lively upon war ordnance charged with 
stinking super-sulphatic powder, Avhich is to be shot on every plantation in 
the hope that it will disgust the olfactory senses of the enemy and thereby 
drive him to seek more inviting fields with the unpolluted smell of new- 
mown hay to revel in. Then the council empty the wine-bottles and drink 
rousing bumpers to each other's health, and adjourn in the hope that meas- 
ures have been taken at least to stay the enemy from total destruction in the 
vineyard, ignorant that they themselves who compose the council, have, by first 
violating the plainest dictates of nature in the practice of silly, methodic 
treatment, so-called art, in the management of their vineyards, prepared the 
spoil for the easy capture of the enemy. The grape-vine should receive the 
tenderest care both as to variety and position. Trees, deciduous and ever- 
green should be introduced in the vineyard so as, by art, to imitate in the 
field the natural circumstances which we find governing that production. 
And the vine should be pruned (like a tree) to dress only its natural form. 
That is, the main leader, as a root, should be preserved and all deformed 
branches, and all pining branches, suffering from the supersession of ad- 
vancing growth, should annually be cleared away. Now, as the habitual 
form of the grape-vine is such that it will not stand upright in its slender 
length alone, and it would be impracticable in the vineyard to stand a tree to 
each vine, we must resort to some sort of support, which, to be convenient 
to get at, the vines must take the horizontal form, of which many kinds have 
been improvised, but mostly they have been adapted to stump- treated vines, 
and we have nothing yet introduced save the old-fashioned fork and rail 
arbor for whole-grown vines, which, at best, is bunglesorne and inconvenient 
and not at all adapted to field culture. Then, what shall we do with our 
long vines? Why, we will take a modicum of the old arbor to each vine, 
and range it the entire length of the row in the field, and on this stringer 
we will chase our whole vines, one after another, throughout the length of the 
rows, all one way. The Highest approach to natural conditions in field cul- 
ture would be secured by setting posts about 4-^- feet high at suitable*dis- 
tances along the rows and cap them with a stringer of wood or wire on the 
top of them, from one end of the rows to the other. The vines may be 
planted at least one year previous to the setting of posts, and they should 



m 

have been pruned to single stems high enough to reach the top of the range. 
When the vines are being planted, also be prepared with some young seed- 
ling locust or black walnut trees (seedling trees are best), or any variety of 
trees which feed in the deep subsoil and enrich the surface soil, and a few 
evergreens, common cedar would be charming, which plant in the same fur- 
rows, one for every six or seven grape-vines, interspersing here and there a 
cedar to give a warmer aspect in Winter, and their healthy influences may 
be appreciated by calling to mind that' the most perfect wild grapes are 
found among the pine bushes in the old field. In the next 6th or 7th par- 
allel row of vines, the trees should be set opposite the middle space of the 
first trees, which will give a sort of quincunx form to the plantation of trees 
in the vineyard. Cultivate all nicely with the shovel-plow, and hoe during 
the Summer, taking great care to assist the young vines by constantly keep- 
ing off all sprouts from their collars save one, the main cane, which is to form 
the uprise of the vine, and should that begin to stool by forking within 
six feet of the ground, cut away at once the weaker branches. And should 
the young vines be much disturbed by wind, drive sticks in the ground in 
the rows, to which tie them. The next season cultivate and treat in same 
way, and in the Fall or Winter of the second year, dig holes and set in posts 
five feet high, with an even range of top at suitable distances in the rows, 
upon which cap a stringer of board 4 in. x 6, of which there may be many sub- 
stitutes. Nail the stringer to the top of the posts, and your simple trellis is 
finished, save perhaps, a few rods to stand by such vines as may not yet 
reach to the top of the range. Now, raise up the vines and place their ex- 
tensions all one way on the top of the rest, so as to chase one after the 
other. A few staples, driven lightly over the stems of the vines, will serve 
to hold them in place on the top of the trellis ; prune with the idea of a 
festoon on the rail. That is, annually, to thin clear out from the main 
stem and side branches all wood which appears to be weakened by the super- 
session of advancing growth, and cut back the side branches drooping on 
either side of the rail, first on the new wood to four buds from the stem. 
These four buds are supposed to make four arms the first season, on each 
stub so treated. The next season cut away to one good bud, the first and 
third arms on each stub, and the second and fourth arms cut back to only 
about thirty inches, to fruit that season. During the fruiting time pay par- 
ticular attention to the one-bud stubs to encourage the new cane to grow by 
rubbing off all other sprouts from concealed buds around the base of the 
stub. These two new canes are for the next season's fruiting. The next, or 
third season, alternate the work, and cut out, in like manner, the old canes 
which have just fruited, and leave the new ones, same length, to fruit, and 
so on from year to year, keeping the main leader, untopped, advancing on 
the trellis. They may even be permitted to embrace the friendly trees, 
which are by this time beginning to rise up to exert their influence. Prune 
but sparingly in Summer, which should be confined to superfluous sprouts 
and rambling branches. 

The trees in the vineyard should be pruned up to the range of the trellis, 
and their heads given a fan-shape, by cutting away freely the branches he- 
tween the rows, and their tops cut off to keep in bounds. 

Cultivate nicely, but lightly, hereafter, and supply the whole surface with 
as much vegetable manure, in the form of mulch, leaves, grass, straw, rot- 
ten wood, &c, as may be had ; ashes, and soap-suds from the wash-tub, 
sprinkled on the vines, would be of great advantage. The best variety to 
plant to make money is the Catawba. Like the Albemarle pippin-apple, its 
quality for the table and market is the best, when grown in localities to suit 
it, which are limited, and therefore the production never equals the demand. 



[10] 

The Ives is well proved to be a profitable table-grape, adapting itself to all 
kinds of localities, and the Norton's Virginia, is now the great wine-grape of 
this section. As to apples, there is a hundred good varieties of Summer, 
Autumn and Winter fruits in this country, some suiting one locality and 
some another. For a family selection, to ripen in succession, I will name 
May-Apple, Striped July, Summer Rose, Cluster July, Early Harvest, Wil- 
liam's Favorite, Early Joe,Summer Cheese, American Summer Pearmain, Bo- 
num, Mother-Apple, Richard's Graft, Annette or Old Betty (not the comnioii- 
so-called Annette, which is nearly worthless), Baltzley, Fall Cheese, Bucking- 
ham, Curtise Cheese or Yellow -fleshed Winter Cheese, Fallawater, Grimes 
Golden, White Sweet Pearmain, Piedmont Pippin, Wine-Sap, Albemarle Pip- 
pin, Johnson's Winter, Rock Greening and Limber-Twig, are all good varie- 
ties to suit this section. 

Pears. — The following list embraces the best kinds in our acquaintance : 
Dearbon's Seedling, Osband's Summer, Julienne, Bartlett, Tyson, Belle Lu- 
crative, Beurre Bosc, Flemish Beauty, Washington Lawrence, and Winter 
Nelis. 

Cherries. — Hearts, Early Purple Guigne, Belle d' Orleans, RockportBi- 
garreau, are the best old sorts in our acquaintance. We are not sufficiently 
acquainted with the Dukes and Morellos,to name choice kinds in that strain 
of variety. 

Peaches. — Amsden's June, Early Alexander, Stump the World, Snow 
Cling, Chinese Cling, Gross-migion, Sal way, and Heath Cling. 

Plums. — Coe's Golden Drop and Green Gage, are the very best of kinds. 

Quinces. — The Orange wo think the best, and Damson.' The Old Vir- 
ginia Blue, the best and most profitable. The Shropshire Damson, so-called, 
Downing says is a plum ; and we say, when worked on peach-stocks, is en- 
tirely worthless. 

In conclusion, we would say to all of our farmer-readers, plant more trees, 
forest, ornamental, and especially evergreens, on the bleak-side of the house- 
yard. Lay off new orchards and vineyards, and treat them in accordance 
with the principles, which Ave have, in this little pamphlet, been trying to 
teach; and we are sure that you will be benefited manifold the cost of 
money and labor expended, according to our directions. Adieu. 

JOHN DOLL1NS, 

Ceozet Depot & P. 0., Alremarle Co., \a. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




000 934 482 2 



ALBEMARLE NU^SEipS. 

High Class Trees and Vines, 

Propagated in new lands, just cleared, free from disease or taint of dis- 
ease, and with a fund of forty years experience in testing modes and 
varieties herein the midst of the Piedmont region to endorse the qual- 
ification claimed. Price List free to all applicants. 
Direct all orders to— 

GTOHUsT IDOI_.I_.HsTS, 

Orozet Depot, Albemarle Co., Va. 



Errata — For treatise on "The Art of Pruning Trees and Arbor Vines" : 
Page 2nd, 3rd paragraph, read wound thus artly, for " wood thus artly" ; 
page 4th, 2nd paragraph, read cater f or " cator" ; 6th page, 2nd paragraph, 
read prink for "frink" ; 8th page, 2nd paragraph, read as a rule for " as a 
root." 



